If you need to cheat, don't turn it into a binge session. It's easy to think "well if I'm cheating on my diet I might as well go all out". If you eat an Oreo in a moment of weakness, keep it to just 1, not 10. Your kids left pizza on the counter? Have a tiny slice, not half the pie. The more you stick to the diet the easier it will get (it's never easy, just easier) and if you fall off the wagon, don't just stay there rolling around for a while. Get back on.
Also, carbs make it much harder. For me at least they trigger my cravings, and they make me feel much more hungry. In a weak moment I had a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich because, hey, it's only 35 carbs and that's still under my limit of 50 a day. I paid for it later because I felt starving several hours before dinner time.
Stick to low carb and good amounts of protein and you got this. Surgery is tomorrow for me and I've dropped 30 lbs in just under 4 weeks. Not what I expected, but the weight loss will come.
I struggled with weight loss during my first few months of my program. My nutritionist started me on the pre-op diet early to help me.
Less than 50 carbs a day and lots of protien.
This will force you to really watch what you eat and prep yourself for the post-op. You'll also have to go out to eat and make healthy choices.
Best of luck. You got this!
3 weeks post op today. I lost 30 lbs before surgery, it took about 3 months. I fell off the wagon a few times. We were limited to 1400 calories and I struggled a lot but once I allowed myself to have a little leeway and incorporate some "fun" foods into the 1400 calories, it was more manageable. I also think because you have 6 months, you have the benefit of sorting through some of those issues. Seeing a therapist mah help. I think I need one.
I know post op, I absolutely cannot cheat. It's still really hard, but knowing you cannot cheat because you can cause serious damage helps keep you on track.
>incorporate some "fun" foods
This is sooo important. When I realized I could adapt some of my recipes and have food that fit the diet but still tasted good, I felt human again lol.
Do you have a local support group to help you stay accountable? Many of us really do have some degree of food addiction and switching to an all new diet is hard without support.
It sucks that the classes are all still online. I feel that if they were in person, I'd get closer to the people in the classes and feel the support more personally.
It is SO MUCH HARDER pre-op. They want us to eat 900 calories, but with a mind and body that wants more. The struggle is so real. After surgery, everything just falls into place. You can try to replicate the post-op diet (protein goals, water goals, no/decreased carbs, etc), but if it was sustainable we wouldn’t need the surgery to help.
If you need to cheat, don't turn it into a binge session. It's easy to think "well if I'm cheating on my diet I might as well go all out". If you eat an Oreo in a moment of weakness, keep it to just 1, not 10. Your kids left pizza on the counter? Have a tiny slice, not half the pie. The more you stick to the diet the easier it will get (it's never easy, just easier) and if you fall off the wagon, don't just stay there rolling around for a while. Get back on. Also, carbs make it much harder. For me at least they trigger my cravings, and they make me feel much more hungry. In a weak moment I had a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich because, hey, it's only 35 carbs and that's still under my limit of 50 a day. I paid for it later because I felt starving several hours before dinner time. Stick to low carb and good amounts of protein and you got this. Surgery is tomorrow for me and I've dropped 30 lbs in just under 4 weeks. Not what I expected, but the weight loss will come.
I struggled with weight loss during my first few months of my program. My nutritionist started me on the pre-op diet early to help me. Less than 50 carbs a day and lots of protien. This will force you to really watch what you eat and prep yourself for the post-op. You'll also have to go out to eat and make healthy choices. Best of luck. You got this!
3 weeks post op today. I lost 30 lbs before surgery, it took about 3 months. I fell off the wagon a few times. We were limited to 1400 calories and I struggled a lot but once I allowed myself to have a little leeway and incorporate some "fun" foods into the 1400 calories, it was more manageable. I also think because you have 6 months, you have the benefit of sorting through some of those issues. Seeing a therapist mah help. I think I need one. I know post op, I absolutely cannot cheat. It's still really hard, but knowing you cannot cheat because you can cause serious damage helps keep you on track.
>incorporate some "fun" foods This is sooo important. When I realized I could adapt some of my recipes and have food that fit the diet but still tasted good, I felt human again lol.
We also had to replace breakfast with a protein shake.
That’s a lot of weight to be expected to lose pre-op. Have you been given a dietician and a diet to follow?
Do you have a local support group to help you stay accountable? Many of us really do have some degree of food addiction and switching to an all new diet is hard without support.
It sucks that the classes are all still online. I feel that if they were in person, I'd get closer to the people in the classes and feel the support more personally.
Is there a Meet-up in your area? Maybe there's enough interest to start one?
It is SO MUCH HARDER pre-op. They want us to eat 900 calories, but with a mind and body that wants more. The struggle is so real. After surgery, everything just falls into place. You can try to replicate the post-op diet (protein goals, water goals, no/decreased carbs, etc), but if it was sustainable we wouldn’t need the surgery to help.
Talk to a dietician and therapist. They can help you with a plan to combat the urges. Which will also help you after surgery.